Lurie: No deal for TO
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Lurie: No deal for T.O.
By Ashley McGeachy Fox, Inquirer Staff Writer
Blasting Terrell Owens' agent for giving the disgruntled wide receiver "self-destructive advice," Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said yesterday that the team would not renegotiate Owens' contract.
"It's not even an issue," Lurie said in an exclusive interview. "It's a nonissue. There are a lot of things I spend time thinking about, but that's not one of them."
Reached at his off-season home in Atlanta last night, Owens declined to comment.
After a stellar season in which he led the Eagles with 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns en route to the team's first Super Bowl appearance since 1981, Owens last month switched agents from his longtime representative David Joseph to Drew Rosenhaus. A powerful agent in the NFL, Rosenhaus quickly flew to Philadelphia for a five-minute meeting with Eagles president Joe Banner.
"My policies are not to comment, so I have no comment," Rosenhaus said.
Neither Rosenhaus nor Owens has said what type of deal the star receiver wants, only that the seven-year $46 million deal he signed before joining the team in 2004 was inadequate. Rosenhaus has not ruled out Owens' missing the Eagles' training camp in July.
Asked whether he expects Owens to be with the Eagles when the regular season begins in September, Lurie said: "If he wants to win a Super Bowl, he sure should be. At this level, with multimillions [of dollars], you're just trying to leave a legacy and win Super Bowls, as far as I'm concerned. And he's got a great opportunity."
In a wide-ranging interview in his office at the Eagles' complex, Lurie blamed Owens for allowing Rosenhaus, who has an NFL client list of more than 90 players, to give him "self-destructive advice."
"It's a shame," said Lurie, who bought the Eagles in 1994 for $185 million.
"Every player is both fragile and talented. Unfortunately, we're seeing around the league certain agents who take advantage of the fragility of the players, and are less worried about their continued success and stability than acting self-destructively. It's too bad."
After a difficult courtship in March 2004, when San Francisco initially sent Owens to Baltimore in a trade that was rescinded before an arbitrator could rule that Owens was technically a free agent, the Eagles gave Owens a signing bonus just shy of $10 million. Owens is scheduled to make $3.25 million this season, then receive a $5 million roster bonus next March.
But the Eagles could escape paying that bonus if they release Owens. Players' contracts in the NFL are not guaranteed.
In 2006, Owens' base salary will drop to $770,000, then rise to $5.5 million in 2007, $6.5 million in 2008, $7.5 million in 2009 and $8.5 million in 2010. Over the life of the deal, Owens will average $6.6 million per year, making him the second- or third-highest-paid receiver, behind Oakland's Randy Moss and possibly Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison.
Before leaving today, with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, for a prestigious conference of chief executive officers in Beijing, Lurie said he could understand a player who has one year remaining on his deal asking to renegotiate, but not a player who recently signed a contract.
"You always have that kind of thing," Lurie said. "I think what you have to do is you have to hold players responsible for some advice they're given that is self-destructive advice. They're not immune. They're not immune to agents stealing players from other agents, and manipulating players. They're just not immune to this.
"I don't think it's unusual for a restricted free agent to want to have a long-term contract and have trouble figuring out the real value of what that should be, but it plays out over time. It always plays itself out, and it will play itself out. But a player who signed a long-term contract, you just have to say, 'Hmm...'
"In the end, what we've seen over the years, especially the last several years with our team and the [New England] Patriots and some others, it's a team game. Teams that really seem to have high-character players win. We've been fortunate to have a lot of high-character players, [including] a very high-character quarterback [Donovan McNabb] who is a leader. You really win with those that want to be with you. You hope when September comes, everybody wants to go out and win a Super Bowl. The economics take care of themselves."
Owens proved he wanted to win a Super Bowl a few months ago. After injuring his right ankle and leg against Dallas on Dec. 19, Owens went through extensive rehabilitation and was ready for the Super Bowl, where he turned in a stunning performance with nine catches for 122 yards.
Last month, Owens told The Inquirer that he was asking for a new contract because the Eagles can cut him at any time, for any reason.
"I just want people to think about what they're hearing from all these reports about me being greedy," Owens said at the time. "Just take a moment and look at my stature in the game. I know I'm a top player in the game, and my current contract doesn't justify that. The fact that I signed this contract, that I'm under contract, doesn't factor into anything when it comes to the National Football League.
"The Eagles can cut me anytime they want to, even if I'm performing well, I'm healthy and I'm putting up numbers, because they don't want to pay a player that money. If they can do what's best for their financial future, then why can't I?"
Owens missed the Eagles' mandatory minicamp, which ended May 1. The Birds' next minicamp, which is voluntary, starts later this month.
Contact staff writer Ashley McGeachy Fox at 215-854-5064 or amcgeachy@phillynews.com.
By Ashley McGeachy Fox, Inquirer Staff Writer
Blasting Terrell Owens' agent for giving the disgruntled wide receiver "self-destructive advice," Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said yesterday that the team would not renegotiate Owens' contract.
"It's not even an issue," Lurie said in an exclusive interview. "It's a nonissue. There are a lot of things I spend time thinking about, but that's not one of them."
Reached at his off-season home in Atlanta last night, Owens declined to comment.
After a stellar season in which he led the Eagles with 1,200 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns en route to the team's first Super Bowl appearance since 1981, Owens last month switched agents from his longtime representative David Joseph to Drew Rosenhaus. A powerful agent in the NFL, Rosenhaus quickly flew to Philadelphia for a five-minute meeting with Eagles president Joe Banner.
"My policies are not to comment, so I have no comment," Rosenhaus said.
Neither Rosenhaus nor Owens has said what type of deal the star receiver wants, only that the seven-year $46 million deal he signed before joining the team in 2004 was inadequate. Rosenhaus has not ruled out Owens' missing the Eagles' training camp in July.
Asked whether he expects Owens to be with the Eagles when the regular season begins in September, Lurie said: "If he wants to win a Super Bowl, he sure should be. At this level, with multimillions [of dollars], you're just trying to leave a legacy and win Super Bowls, as far as I'm concerned. And he's got a great opportunity."
In a wide-ranging interview in his office at the Eagles' complex, Lurie blamed Owens for allowing Rosenhaus, who has an NFL client list of more than 90 players, to give him "self-destructive advice."
"It's a shame," said Lurie, who bought the Eagles in 1994 for $185 million.
"Every player is both fragile and talented. Unfortunately, we're seeing around the league certain agents who take advantage of the fragility of the players, and are less worried about their continued success and stability than acting self-destructively. It's too bad."
After a difficult courtship in March 2004, when San Francisco initially sent Owens to Baltimore in a trade that was rescinded before an arbitrator could rule that Owens was technically a free agent, the Eagles gave Owens a signing bonus just shy of $10 million. Owens is scheduled to make $3.25 million this season, then receive a $5 million roster bonus next March.
But the Eagles could escape paying that bonus if they release Owens. Players' contracts in the NFL are not guaranteed.
In 2006, Owens' base salary will drop to $770,000, then rise to $5.5 million in 2007, $6.5 million in 2008, $7.5 million in 2009 and $8.5 million in 2010. Over the life of the deal, Owens will average $6.6 million per year, making him the second- or third-highest-paid receiver, behind Oakland's Randy Moss and possibly Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison.
Before leaving today, with NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, for a prestigious conference of chief executive officers in Beijing, Lurie said he could understand a player who has one year remaining on his deal asking to renegotiate, but not a player who recently signed a contract.
"You always have that kind of thing," Lurie said. "I think what you have to do is you have to hold players responsible for some advice they're given that is self-destructive advice. They're not immune. They're not immune to agents stealing players from other agents, and manipulating players. They're just not immune to this.
"I don't think it's unusual for a restricted free agent to want to have a long-term contract and have trouble figuring out the real value of what that should be, but it plays out over time. It always plays itself out, and it will play itself out. But a player who signed a long-term contract, you just have to say, 'Hmm...'
"In the end, what we've seen over the years, especially the last several years with our team and the [New England] Patriots and some others, it's a team game. Teams that really seem to have high-character players win. We've been fortunate to have a lot of high-character players, [including] a very high-character quarterback [Donovan McNabb] who is a leader. You really win with those that want to be with you. You hope when September comes, everybody wants to go out and win a Super Bowl. The economics take care of themselves."
Owens proved he wanted to win a Super Bowl a few months ago. After injuring his right ankle and leg against Dallas on Dec. 19, Owens went through extensive rehabilitation and was ready for the Super Bowl, where he turned in a stunning performance with nine catches for 122 yards.
Last month, Owens told The Inquirer that he was asking for a new contract because the Eagles can cut him at any time, for any reason.
"I just want people to think about what they're hearing from all these reports about me being greedy," Owens said at the time. "Just take a moment and look at my stature in the game. I know I'm a top player in the game, and my current contract doesn't justify that. The fact that I signed this contract, that I'm under contract, doesn't factor into anything when it comes to the National Football League.
"The Eagles can cut me anytime they want to, even if I'm performing well, I'm healthy and I'm putting up numbers, because they don't want to pay a player that money. If they can do what's best for their financial future, then why can't I?"
Owens missed the Eagles' mandatory minicamp, which ended May 1. The Birds' next minicamp, which is voluntary, starts later this month.
Contact staff writer Ashley McGeachy Fox at 215-854-5064 or amcgeachy@phillynews.com.
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Comments
"then why can't I?".....Because they paid you a signing bonus of TEN MILLION DOLLARS that's why you f***ing jackass!!!
Why do they call it a 'contract' when only one side of the party has to abide by it? He's right; the team can release any player at any time.
What I see happening is them taking some back end money and giving it to him up front...the Eagles say 'we didn't give him any more money' and TO says 'I got my deal redone'.
A great point??? What is difficult to understand about this??? The Eagles paid him a TEN, I'll repeat...TEN, I'll repeat again...TEN MILLION DOLLARS signing bonus for the contract!!! Case closed, end of story - he signed it, he's got to abide by it - simple as that.
<< <i><<< TO raises a great point...the fact that the owners and teams have so much more leverage than the players has always puzzled me. >>>
A great point??? What is difficult to understand about this??? The Eagles paid him a TEN, I'll repeat...TEN, I'll repeat again...TEN MILLION DOLLARS signing bonus for the contract!!! Case closed, end of story - he signed it, he's got to abide by it - simple as that. >>
But tell me why the player is the only side of these so-called contracts that have to abide by it?
How come a team can sign a player for X number of years, and can release him with no recourse at any time? Yes you say the signing bonus is supposed to make up for it, but that's part of the contract too.
I don't care how big his signing bonus is; all sorts of jobs pay their employees all sorts of signing bonuses (whether it's outright cash, stock options, whatever), why is the NFL any different?
It seems as if you are bitter because he got a big signing bonus, that somehow he should become an indentured servant.
Comparing an indentured servant to someone who signs an NFL contract and especially one for ten million dollars - now that's funny!
They were before ... three straight NFC Championship game appearances, and last year TO did NOT help them reach the Super Bowl as he missed both playoff games - games that the Eagles manhandled the opposition.
Does Dallas have a TO? Nope, and yet boys fans still say they are gonna be great????
But tell me why the player is the only side of these so-called contracts that have to abide by it?
because that is the way it is .... indentured servant? please man, puh-leeze
<< <i>
Does Dallas have a TO? Nope, and yet boys fans still say they are gonna be great????
>>
They have Terry Glenn!!! He's a speed threat! Watch out!
I think most fans get hung up on the NFL salaries and feel the players are being babies...you say 'that's the way it is' when asked why the contracts only are one-way contracts? That makes it ok?
A NFL player's career can be over in an instant, and there are NO guaranteed contracts. Yet we feel the players should just suck it up, because that's the way it's always been?
I think you are seeing a mini-revolution here, and Rosenhaus is leading the charge.
I could not disagree more. Rosenhaus is screwing up, and he knows it. Both he and TO have never met a microphone or camera they didn't like, and now mum is the word??? His players are not going to get the deals they want and the NFL and the other team owners are watching these situations closely.
While it is true that an NFL player's career could abruptly end, they get paid handsomely for their services and that is the choice they have made.
TO, and others, will have to sit this year and NOT get paid. He will be one year older next year, and this holdout will not help him get more money.
Firstly, Rosenhaus is an absolute fraud. He cares only about his own power and money, and uses the players as an end to achieve those results. He couldn't care less about Terrell Owens. Nothing particularly wrong with that, but stop pretending like he is some sort of revolutionary hero.
Lastly, football players are big strong men physically, but mentally yes many of them are "babies." They've been pampered from Jr High School through college and throughout their NFL career. As far as careers, NOBODY's career is guaranteed. Nobody's job is guaranteed...so let's not act like NFL players are something so special.
Let's stop feeling sorry for millionaire athletes who don't want to honor signed legal contracts. Oh boo hoo...Owens says he had a good year and so should get more money now. It can work the other way and you know it - Owens could have blown out a knee in the first play of the first game and the Eagles are then stuck for ten million dollars. A contract is a contract!
<< <i>. As far as careers, NOBODY's career is guaranteed. Nobody's job is guaranteed...so let's not act like NFL players are something so special.
>>
Baseball players have guaranteed contracts...look at Jason Giambi. He'll be an $82 million minor leaguer. And MLB players have a much longer average career than football players.
I think we let the issue of how much they make cloud our judgements of them. And you don't think Rosenhaus is leading the revolution? Why don't you take a look at his high profile clients and how they are ALL working the system...Javon Walker, TO, Anquin Boldin...
I saw screw the owners...these rich cats have been living the good life for far too long.
Hey - I've got no great love for the owners, but it's the fans who windup paying for all of this.
Does Dallas have a TO? Nope, and yet boys fans still say they are gonna be great????
So of you guys are so sensitive lol . Just kidding around bud. I've mentioned MANY times now that i feel you guys are still the best but i thought Dallas has done a nice job so far upgrading their team
Axtell, i still see your a little bothered because you had no idea Glenn's a speed guy. I think if you spend less time on here and more time actually WATCHING the games you'll be just fine.
Good Luck ! !
<< <i>
Axtell, i still see your a little bothered because you had no idea Glenn's a speed guy. I think if you spend less time on here and more time actually WATCHING the games you'll be just fine.
Good Luck ! ! >>
Dude I don't care about Glenn..he'll be a non-factor AGAIN this year (just like he has been for the past FIVE years).
I think you are the one bothered that will the high-end wide receiver free agents, Glenn was the best you could do? I mean Randy Moss was out there, Plaxico Burress...and many others.
And Dallas is hanging their hat on Terry Glenn?
Uh yeah.
Im happy the way my team looks . Can you say the same about yours ? Griese, Simms, Akilli Smith ? And your badmouthing our qb ? lol
And I'd be willing to bet that you would rather have Griese as your opening day QB than Drew 'the statue' Bledsoe, no matter whatever you say on these boards.
My roster? Hmm, I have Griese (97.5 QB rating last year), Cadillac at RB, Alstott at FB, Clayton and real speed in Joey Galloway at WR (unlike your boy Glenn), a young stud WR in Larry Brackings (my favorite pick by Tampa in this year's draft) Becht at TE you have a solid lineup. Pair that with the always solid defense and you have the makings of a solid 8-10 win season.
How about a bet Kobe..if the Bucs end up with a better record than Dallas, you put a photo of my choosing in your signature line for a month?
And vice versa if Dallas ends up with better than Tampa.
Deal?
How the mariners doing this year?? LOL
Putting together a set of 61 Fleer Basketball PSA 7 or better.
Trade references: T,Raf12,Coach Vinny,Iceman,McDee2,Lantz,JSA
P.S when someone names Becht when talking about talent on their roster, their in for a long year lol . I live in Jersey, i know all about Becht . Now Witten on the other hand, that there is a T.E
Griese is a decent qb, but is he that much of an upgrade over Bledsoe ? The guy was nothing but a crybaby with Denver , not who i want leading my team imo .
<< <i>
How the mariners doing this year?? LOL >>
How are the Mets doing? A .500 team with all that talent and money you spent?
At least I had the expectation is was going to be a long year...and I don't think you've ever seen me on here proclaiming the Mariners as world champs (except for the pre-season predictions...even that was noted as 'fan bias').
You'd think with the Mets signing those 2 huge free agent deals they'd be better than .500, right?
as far as our 2 huge free agent signings id say IMO it's paying off really nice.
<< <i>didnt you guys sign beltre and sexon??youd think with those 2 singings youd be better then 8 games under 500.?? Mets are a trade away from contending for the division. Diaz or Cameron will be dealt for much needed bullpen help.
as far as our 2 huge free agent signings id say IMO it's paying off really nice. >>
I've said all along that they should have signed one or the other, not both, and gotten some pitching help. I've also said that when your 'ace' pitcher is 42 years old (moyer), then you are in dire need of pitching help.
The M's overreacted to being the worst offensive team last year...either Sexson of Beltre would have been a marked improvement, and then taken the money and paid a pitcher.
Where are you going to get this bullpen help? You make it sound like it would be easy to just go pick up a quality closer. Reality check: there are a lot more teams in need of a closer than there are closers.
The mets will (again) finish out of the playoffs, with the Marlins and Braves (again) being the class of the NL East. I say the Braves going for division title #14.
there are a lot of teams out there that would take mike cameron for a quality relief pitcher.
Mets are 18-17 right now. i still feel they will contend for the playoffs this year. when the weather heats up so will the mets bats.